The IELTS

As an International Registered Nurse dedicated to taking their career to the USA, you’ll probably already know that to live and work in the United States you will need to pass the IELTS before your US visa can be issued.

IELTS opens a world of opportunity for international registered nurses. It is the world’s most popular English proficiency test for international study, migration and work, with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. The IELTS is accepted by the US Government and US Visa and Immigration department. The IELTS ensures that non-native English speakers have the required English skills and English ability to live and work in the USA. It is designed to reflect the sort of language spoken every day in an English-speaking country, and will assess you on:

Listening;

Reading;

Writing;

Speaking.

Here are some frequently asked questions we get about the IELTS, and our answers to those questions to help you in your path to passing it and working in the US.

Which test do I need to take?

The IELTS offers two different exams and so it is important that you choose the right test; IELTS Academic and IELTS Professional. If you are an international registered nurse that wants to work in the USA, you will need to take the IELTS Academic.

Where can I take the IELTS?

You can find an IELTS test centre in over 1200 locations across 140 countries, so there is sure to be a test centre not too far away from you. To find an IELTS test location near you, visit their Find a Test Location page.

What do I need to pass?

The IELTS is marked from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert). To pass your IELTS and be eligible for a US visa you will need to score 6.5 overall but must score a 7 on the speaking section of the IELTS exam to meet US visa standards.

Where can I find practice questions?

Here at Conexus Medstaff you do not need your IELTS to apply with us or even to have an interview with us. But having your IELTS does make your case to work as an RN in the US look much stronger. Without it, your visa will not be processed by the US Visa and Immigration department. So don’t let not having the IELTS hold you back. For one thing, you never know how quickly the priority date will move, so the sooner you have it, the sooner your American adventure can get underway!